Chapter38
An Uncle and a Father Confer
Afew minutes earlier, outside the door to Helen’s room
Steeling himself for the worst, Will lifted his hand, intending to knock on Helen’s door.If Tom was inside, he wasn’t sure what he was going to do to his nephew, but a dressing down would be the very least of it.
He began imagining all sorts of appropriate punishment for the young man.
A night spent alone in one of the temples with only a mummy for company.
Leave him in the desert with only a dromedary to find his way back to civilization.
Make him spend a day in Bradley’s company with nothing more than a single nappy and a bottle of milk.
He shook his head upon thinking of the last scenario.Knowing Tom as he did, he was fairly sure the young man and the babe would make a day of it, and they would both come out of it better for having spent the time together.
Will had thought he had made it clear to all the boys on this trip that they needed to be on their very best behavior.The fact that Tom wasn’t in his room—Will had stopped there first—meant it was likely he was in Helen’s room.Nearly fifteen minutes had passed since the ‘eleven o’ clock’ he had read through the paper when holding her letter to the light.
‘Eleven o’clock’ was no doubt the time intended for an assignation.
An assignation he now realized had been initiated by Lady Helen.
Will lowered his fist and considered what he was about to do, giving a start when the door to the next door room suddenly opened.
“Bellingham?”The whispered word was said by Harry.From his manner of dress and bare feet, it was apparent he had hurriedly pulled on a dressing robe, although he was wearing a pair of pantaloons.
“Everly,” Will replied, nodding to the earl.“I, uh,…” He rolled his eyes.“I suppose you’re wondering why I’m standing outside your daughter’s room,” he whispered.
“Actually, I am not,” Harry replied, a long sigh following his words.
“You knew…?”
From’s Harry’s expression, Will realized whatever Helen’s father knew, he had learned only moments ago.
“How didyoufind out?”Harry asked.
About to admit to finding Lady Helen’s letter on Tom’s pillow, Will was prevented from doing so when a strange sound came from beyond the door.
Thwack!
“What the hell?”he asked in a hoarse whisper.
“It sounded like… like a slap.”
“A slap?Or a… a spank?”Will countered.
Harry’s face screwed into a grimace.“Across the face,” he said, with the confidence of someone who had suffered the same fate.He even used a hand to rub one cheek as if in sympathy.
Will nodded.“I may have experienced something similar once a long time ago,” he admitted.
“Oh, I deserved it,” Harry said.“It actually confirmed for me that Stella would make the perfect countess.”
“Same,” Will agreed.He once again lifted his fist to knock on the door but paused when Harry placed a staying hand on it.“What?”
“I don’t know about you, but I only learned from Stella a few minutes ago that my daughter told her she intended to take matters into her own hands regarding a certain young man,” Harry explained.
“Thomas?”Will guessed.
